Hamilton?

[ItechJester]

Hey RFD! I need your help.

We're looking at relocating to Hamilton for a couple of years... so the Mrs can study at McMaster, and since I work from home now, it may make sense vs commuting 3 hours/day.

Anyone here from Hamilton? Thoughts on the city, the entertainment, atmosphere, crime rate, atmosphere around the university (including places where the students like to hang out ie starbucks etc), the people, anything really.

Is hamilton an up-and-coming city? The perception I got was that the economy was not doing so well there lately... a lot of factories closing. will that have an impact on crime rates? is it a blue collar city or a white collar city?

Thanks!

[hondanation09]

Hamilton really does not rely on Steel company anymore...more of a health care industry city. Downtown core is going thru a revitalization...still far off but improving. Pier 4 waterfront area is getting very nice. Westdale area around Mac nice area. Depends what you want...near university for partying reasons or away for quiet. Brand new Starbucks across from MAC Hospital on Main West, 1 on Locke street (Locke street is a nice area as well). There is Hess Village lined with bars and restaurants that is nice but becoming overtaken on weekends by youth who like to pick fights. There are areas to avoid like any city.

[mynameislesley]

My sister lives and works right downtown and my husband works as a police officer out of the downtown attachment. As far as nice areas go, Hamilton seems to have 'small pockets' of nice areas surrounded by scum areas. I guess it really depends on how close you need to be to Mac for your wife. Westdale is nice, low crime and the Mac parties aren't that bad recently there's been a couple of muggings in the area though), and as already mentioned, Locke Street is nice along with Aberdeen. Personally, I would never live downtown (I grew up in Stoney Creek; a suburb of Hamilton). If you're wife is able to commute to Mac, Ancaster', Dundas, Burlington or Grimsby are all nice communities surrounding Hamilton.

My number one recommendation would be that if you narrow down your search (rental, purchasing ppty) to a couple of streets/addresses/ go into the downtown police station and ask about crime rates in those areas (or you can just PM me and I can bug my husband for his input!)

[Kunman]

i study there

Hell on Earth

[ItechJester]

Thanks guys.

So basically, the Westdale area is nice, but too close to the Uni is bad because the students can get rowdy?

The realtor also suggested the area around Limeridge, since it has a bunch of shops and stuff nearby. How is that area? The realtor didn't sound too convincing to me to be honest...

By revitalization, do you think we should buy or rent? In other words, do you think the revitalization will improve the city much in the next five years?

[mynameislesley]

The city has been 'dumpy' for as long as I can remember and until they bring in new businesses (to the downtown core) and put more focus on dealing with those less fortunate (ie: homeless), then downtown will never improve - downtown hamilton is basically full of nudie bars and dollar stores...

As for the Limeridge Mall area, it can be busy as that's the main mall for the city (and out of towners mall of choice). The bus system from there to downtown is decent (from the last time I took a bus on that route; +10 years ago). I don't think that area is 'bad' by any means, but like I posted earlier, I would never live in Hamilton; just due to personal preference and a biased from growing up in Stoney Creek.

I'll push Grimsby on to you again as that's where I currently live (and love it!) And also add that my husband and I currently have our townhouse for sale...*nudge nudge wink wink*.....potential RFD deal? Lol j/k